tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22546475926065813812017-11-06T08:14:40.633+00:00vio; in love with indiaViohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.comBlogger251125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-69823746310567057542016-02-19T12:35:00.001+00:002016-02-19T12:41:21.576+00:00Something I want to remember...This is a text by Maria Rosenstone, written in Frederick Leboyer's <i>Inner Beauty, Inner Light - Yoga for Pregnant Women</i> (pp. 187-188), which I want to remember...<br><br>~<br><br><i>"The celebration of birth begins with a sudden yet gentle release of the primordial waters. My body is awakened to a new movement within, not yet rhythmic, but strong enough to begin the breathing and the inner meditation that my teacher has given me. I continue to breathe while bathing and wrapping myself in a towel, when suddenly I am seized by an incredible tremor arising from the depth of my body. I hold to the window's ledge and, while watching the familiar mango tree in the yard become unfamiliar, my entire being is convulsed and drawn into itself.<br><br>I sense immediately that I will be continuously absorbed by this passionate movement until it culminates itself. I am now totally taken by this energy that is not separate from myself. With each rise of its force I feel <b>the passage that I have become</b> opening itself ever more and more, each breath seems to uncover a new space. There is only expansion now and no limitation is endured. The event tolerates no measuring, will not be in any way contained. It seems on the contrary to have contained my whole self. There is no choice to be had, the meditation is the dance.<br><br>A natural birth is a manifestation of spontaneous expression and cannot be schooled, urged, or thrust upon a mode of living that is not natural. It requires only a clear channel, a body in health, a mind in understanding, a whole being that is totally open. When the intelligence of the body is awakened, as through the practice of yoga, it will guide the woman throughout the pregnancy, making her feel perhaps more in touch with her self than ever before. She is then close to her own nature and ready to flow with the movement of birth when it begins.<br><br>The breath will move evenly throughout each phase. Conscious maintenance of the breath can be the means through which the woman retains the pulse of what is happening. She is then one with all that waxes and wanes, rises and falls, inhales and exhales. All of creation is with her as she becomes the very passage for life itself. And when the moment arrives to receive the fruit of her love, she is truly there in that silent, joyous space to meet the small one with reverence and wonder.<br><br>Birth can be seen now, not as a procedure separate from the living of each day, but rather as a<b> proceeding</b> from the very roots of it. The greatest preparation that can be made for the birth of a child is to allow for the constant arising of birth in one's self. And this arising can take place only in a space that is clear and free of all expectation.<br><br>The sublime energy that, when trusted to pass freely, will move the womb to open and empty itself, bringing forth the new life, will also sweep through the being of the mother, giving rise to birth and rebirth simultaneously and at each instant. The intensity of childbirth brings the supreme moment in which the usual hold on one's self can be shaken and undone. One falls into the exultation of life as it lives itself. Birth then is the occasion of vibrating with the universal rhythm, a moment to feel the perfect accord of what is below with what is above, a merging with the cosmic dance."</i><br><br>♥Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-14116061377720159372016-02-03T16:01:00.000+00:002016-02-04T06:33:16.251+00:00Violin feelings during pregnancy<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qKMryoCsGHQ/VrH-6_FqEOI/AAAAAAAACEk/JGeogc1CbN4/s1600/bidon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qKMryoCsGHQ/VrH-6_FqEOI/AAAAAAAACEk/JGeogc1CbN4/s200/bidon2.jpg" /></a>For those who don't yet know; I'm pregnant. Seventh month is over now, belly is really big, belly button pops out, and I finally have that brown, vertical line across it. A real pregnant lady, ha! Now I clearly feel Baby's heals popping out against the upper wall of my tummy; I feel the little hard balls really well. It's funny! Yesterday one kick was so strong that it came to me by surprise, as though it was going to tear through my skin. Huhu.<br><br><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-akSl6rCOmWU/VrH_8UbxfiI/AAAAAAAACEg/QH8LFL2ylFA/s1600/bidon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-akSl6rCOmWU/VrH_8UbxfiI/AAAAAAAACEg/QH8LFL2ylFA/s200/bidon1.jpg" /></a>Last September when Vijay and I came back from Europe, we brought back my second (study-) violin with us. My intention was to have an extra violin for potential students, because of course you cannot buy a violin here in Khajuraho, and I was thinking, that way any new student can at least borrow my study violin during class for practice. But of course I haven't had any new student while pregnant, and even my only one doesn't come as often as he used to because most of the time I just can't be bothered teaching. So a few months ago, seeing my old Western music sheets in the violin case and realising the latter still contained my (really good) Western strings, I suddenly did what felt completely crazy and bold and daring: I grabbed my violin, tuned it back to Western style, and tried out some of the old pieces! I had been getting so bored just playing slow <i>alaap</i>s in Raag Bihag on my own, as somehow it had been the only raga I had felt like playing because it's sweet and feminine, and because I just don't feel like playing fast, rhythmic stuff during pregnancy! Being in Khajuraho all the time with my only student as musical friend isn't exactly inspiring to practise much either. Always on my own with no-one else to play, booh! So that day I decided to go back to the easy, cute Western tunes I used to play back in 2006-2007! Minuets, rondos, sonatinas, waltz... And my, oh my! What fun! It was so refreshing to play something <i>completely different</i>, not wondering what the heck I could play, and having to work through getting used to the Western tuning again! For a few days I still played in the Indian position because it felt a lot easier, but after a while I started using my shoulder rest and practising the Western, upper position again. It is so nice to be able to move or dance while playing, too... Also, now I have to say my big belly is making the Indian position somewhat uncomfortable, because I have to bend down more and it reduces Baby's space, so after a while it hurts around my rib cage. With the Western position (which I am pretty comfortable with again now) I can keep my torso more upright and stretched, so it's more comfortable. Who would have thought!? I know... Pregnancy and its surprises...<br><br>And did I mention I gave up on working towards the third year of Prayag Sangeet Samiti examinations this season? Well, I had no motivation whatsoever. I had clearly been planning to take those exams in Varanasi <i>before</i> I was actually/seriously pregnant, without knowing the reality of my pregnancy. Last October when I was in Varanasi (at four months of pregnancy) I went for just one class with my Guruji. We played Raga Jog, which is quite funky, and which I normally like, but somehow, I guess under hormonal influence (haha!) I felt it was very <i>masculine</i>, and I didn't enjoy it at all. And as soon as Guruji speeded the pace up, for the <i>jhala</i> part of the improvisation, I just couldn't play. I just <i>couldn't</i>; it was horrible and I had to stop. It just didn't work; it just didn't happen; my limbs stopped moving! Suddenly I felt bored and exasperated by such speed, yes, such <i>masculinity</i> that I couldn't be bothered anymore. It was a very novel, interesting feeling, which really came up to my surprise. With it I realised that I wouldn't have any motivation to work towards taking a violin exam, and I didn't want to <i>force myself</i> during this <i>unique, meditative</i> period of my life. It was too important to listen to myself and do what my heart guided me to do - and clearly it was not going to guide me towards working for a violin exam. And in the end, the theory exam of December would never have happened anyway since we had <a href="http://vio-confidential.blogspot.in/2015/12/a-marriage-ceremony-after-all.html" target="_new">our sudden, unexpected marriage ceremony</a> on 14 December. I also realised it would be crazy to have to come to Varanasi mid-May for the practical exam with a one-month old baby; which I had thought possible when I was still thinking I was Superwoman, not having yet realised that we will have to register Baby's birth at the French embassy within 30 days of delivery by the way!!! No, I think going back to Varanasi again for an exam just three weeks after travelling with a tiny baby to Delhi around the end of April would be shear madness!!!<br><br>I would never have allowed myself to go back to Western violin if I wasn't pregnant I think. I always wanted too much to be a "good student". But pregnancy really makes you listen to yourself, to your heart, and <i>it's nice</i>! It allows you to do what you truly feel as opposed to what you think you <i> should</i> do, and not caring about it. It really allows you to let go... I do feel pregnancy has changed my awareness - there are some things in my life that I knew were right but that I didn't want to see, and I see and accept them now. Some priorities have changed, and not just because of Baby's forthcoming arrival in my (our) life. With Baby I don't know how diligent I'll be able to be with the Indian violin for some time - but not just that...<br><br><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qy0Nx4L4_eA/VrIeQboMXeI/AAAAAAAACEw/g6Wg8uFYt6A/s1600/IMG_4042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qy0Nx4L4_eA/VrIeQboMXeI/AAAAAAAACEw/g6Wg8uFYt6A/s200/IMG_4042.JPG" /></a>So seventh month is over and everything will be very quick now. Train to Varanasi is booked for 23 February - that's in less than three weeks! - And then I'll be staying there, surrounded by some really dear friends, until Baby sees the outside world!!! I'm also looking forward to being near the Ganga river,<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TOlxvjdi7RQ/VrIeeMBPP2I/AAAAAAAACE0/gLw-cJxCatY/s1600/IMG_4043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TOlxvjdi7RQ/VrIeeMBPP2I/AAAAAAAACE0/gLw-cJxCatY/s200/IMG_4043.JPG" /></a> I'm looking forward to strolling along the ghats and hearing some Indian classical concerts at sunrise (yes, because my being bored with <i>playing</i> Indian does not mean at all that I'm bored <i>listening</i> to it! ;-)... I think I won't move away from Assi Ghat for a month to avoid traffic, and it sounds fabulous! Kashi - the City of Light - and the Ganges river, to welcome my child... ♥Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-45938554579026458472016-01-28T09:02:00.002+00:002016-01-28T14:46:05.367+00:00"Be the change you want to see in the world"!...Long time no blog, yet again! But today I have a lot of energy to write!<br><br><a name="project"></a>Back in November, our German friend Pia from the <a href="http://www.bluebank-ev.de/" target="_new">Blue Bank</a> association was in Khajuraho for about 3 weeks. She has been coming regularly for the past six years to promote ecological awareness through art. I had never been in Khajuraho at the same time as her until this season, so this time I was glad to be present and to see it for myself. It was interesting. The same locals get involved in her actions every year, and she attracts crowds of children because she organises programmes in which she gets them to draw postcards to send to her friends in Germany and in Africa, and of course she has snacks and sweets to distribute at the end. Vijay is always the main organiser of such events.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roqhUtgbB-c/VqnDogACT4I/AAAAAAAACAY/mEc9uEQNEDg/s1600/2015-11-11_diwali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" title="Diwali; 11 November 2015" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roqhUtgbB-c/VqnDogACT4I/AAAAAAAACAY/mEc9uEQNEDg/s200/2015-11-11_diwali.jpg" /></a> This year she also presented her own nature-related painting to the children, and one of the local adults told a story to the children, to try and raise their awareness about ecology. It was for such an event that I played violin back in <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2014/06/first-concert-with-my-pupils.html" target="_new">June 2014</a> (although Pia wasn't there at the time). For last Diwali, on 11 November 2015, again she organised a similar action, and I played a little violin concert with my student Udit by the Brahma Temple.<br><br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8wBjwbbH4Y/VqnJPVHYQfI/AAAAAAAACAo/ZYmG2WQNn0E/s1600/IMG_5184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img title="Cleaning action by the locals!" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8wBjwbbH4Y/VqnJPVHYQfI/AAAAAAAACAo/ZYmG2WQNn0E/s200/IMG_5184.JPG" /></a>After the event she started talking about gathering some locals to clean the area around the temple and what we could reach of the lake around it - all in front of our house. Now, I had been dreaming of such a thing for years, but feeling completely powerless about it... "Why don't we organise this before you go?" I asked. And so we did, on the following Sunday. I was really excited. Vijay went to buy a bin that we have since then been keeping in front of our house. Quite a few people gathered, and we filled about 5 big bags with all sorts of litter. Everyone had a lot of energy, and it was really nice to work all together for a noble cause.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAdTybUiLLQ/VqnTjwJ3F4I/AAAAAAAACA4/wH67YWXLC3E/s1600/IMG_5191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img title="Proud after the work!" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAdTybUiLLQ/VqnTjwJ3F4I/AAAAAAAACA4/wH67YWXLC3E/s200/IMG_5191.JPG" /></a> This was possible also because (I forgot to mention) a rubbish collector has been passing our house regularly since about September - an amazing piece of news for me, as from then on we wouldn't <i>have to</i> throw our own rubbish in the lake behind the temple (for lack of anywhere else to throw it)!!! So after we had picked all the rubbish, the collector passed by and we gave him the five bags... In the end, Vijay went to buy some water nuts for all the hard workers and we all ate them happily.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oucppEWsLwU/VqnVnl8LFXI/AAAAAAAACBE/eiB2aD9wUGY/s1600/eco-eng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oucppEWsLwU/VqnVnl8LFXI/AAAAAAAACBE/eiB2aD9wUGY/s200/eco-eng.jpg" /></a></div>This action was a kick start for me, as it really motivated me to carry on. I designed an explanatory poster not only in English, but also in Hindi, so that it would also make sense to the local population. The objective was to build a board and plant it next to the Brahma Temple, to raise our community's awareness about the project. On our <b>Friends in Khajuraho</b> homestay's <a href="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com" target="_new">website</a>, I added a section in our menu about our new <b>eco-friendly promise</b>, and on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/friends.in.khajuraho/" target="_new">Facebook page</a> I added a mention and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.467305973470728.1073741843.302398293294831&type=3" target="_new">photo gallery</a> of the same. And our group of locals agreed that we would carry on cleaning every Sunday...<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aBIMYAaD0Hg/VqnWgnj-A4I/AAAAAAAACBM/IYfi4I4b9lo/s1600/eco-hi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aBIMYAaD0Hg/VqnWgnj-A4I/AAAAAAAACBM/IYfi4I4b9lo/s200/eco-hi.jpg" /></a></div>On the following Sunday I was the only one to do any cleaning, but I filled our entire bin nonetheless. Since then, I have been cleaning the area around the temple on my own, once in a while, when I felt it was necessary... The board hasn't seen the day yet, but I am determined that it will... Of course, no-one from our gathering has ever turned up on a Sunday to clean because keeping everyone motivated does take time, but <i>I</i> will keep doing it to show them all, and hopefully things will grow from there...? I feel so lucky and blessed to live <i>on</i> such a beautiful, historical, UNESCO-protected site, that I do want to do something! The Brahma Temple is the most ancient of all the famous Khajuraho temples, and it stands there, right in front of our house!<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bcnVQGUXxvQ/VqnwMOYELFI/AAAAAAAACBw/7jpJdtJDxcQ/s1600/eco-promise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img title="Our eco-friendly promise!" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bcnVQGUXxvQ/VqnwMOYELFI/AAAAAAAACBw/7jpJdtJDxcQ/s320/eco-promise.jpg" /></a></div><br><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMmMffhX6NI/Vqn9GUgg4oI/AAAAAAAACCU/BmvL35uAq74/s1600/01-temple-guard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img title="A clean Brahma Temple and its guard!" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMmMffhX6NI/Vqn9GUgg4oI/AAAAAAAACCU/BmvL35uAq74/s200/01-temple-guard.jpg" /></a>About two months after the <a href="http://www.bluebank-ev.de/" target="_new">Blue Bank</a> action took place, some more great news broke out: The Brahma Temple, which up to then had always been closed to the public except for maybe two days per year, was now going to be open for visitors. And along with this a guard had been assigned to sit by the temple everyday - with the duty to broom the platform around the temple regularly! I was so happy to hear this! So since then, the platform itself has been clean at all times. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3n9DqDlSZs8/VqoVpEsZTLI/AAAAAAAACD0/Ra3J9etWjlE/s1600/03-statue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img title="Inside the Brahma Temple" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3n9DqDlSZs8/VqoVpEsZTLI/AAAAAAAACD0/Ra3J9etWjlE/s200/03-statue1.jpg" /></a>I guess I should mention here that the main items of rubbish gathering around the temple are all the small individual sachets of betel nuts and/or tobacco or whatever mouth fresheners, which men sitting by the temple doing nothing throw as they chew everyday. That and packets of crisps or spicy snacks or whatever. So the temple platform is now clean all the time; however, where has the guard been brooming all the aforementioned rubbish into? Just a few meters down of course... Down the steps of the temple platform and around, into the sloping ground that descends to the lake, into the lake, etc...<br><br><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2JN2Bt-MQo/VqnXd4KU3gI/AAAAAAAACBY/C-e0OZ_cXww/s1600/gandhi-quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2JN2Bt-MQo/VqnXd4KU3gI/AAAAAAAACBY/C-e0OZ_cXww/s320/gandhi-quote.jpg" /></a>This morning the gathering litter was just too much for me to see, and I hadn't done any cleaning for a while. I had not yet had my shower, so I set up for the task with my little bin, crossing the road every time it was full to empty it into our big bin... Whenever I start, I have to say it's difficult for me to stop, because it just never ends, and I have a hard time stopping any unfinished job! I dug many sachets and plastic bags out - really, you don't realise how much crap goes down and down into our poor soils until you try and clean it yourself! Besides, doing this in front of the passing locals gives me tremendous energy to carry on, because I love to give an <i>example</i> and (perhaps) make them think! <b>"Be the change you want to see in the world"</b>, as the great Mahatma Gandhi of India famously said! And so I cleaned the entire lawn on the right of the temple and around the <a href="http://www.bluebank-ev.de/" target="_new">Blue Bank</a>'s blue bench and statue (Pia got these designed a few years ago as part of her awareness action), the beginning of the sloping ground as far as I could reach it, the ground down the steps and to the left side of the temple platform (all this with body awareness to spare my 7-month pregnant belly, of course... :-)<br><br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uOB8DbDSsn0/VqoEZq_fHCI/AAAAAAAACCk/hYWAecD62nc/s1600/cleaning-vio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img title="This photo dates from November by the way, so you can't see my big pregnant belly!" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uOB8DbDSsn0/VqoEZq_fHCI/AAAAAAAACCk/hYWAecD62nc/s200/cleaning-vio.jpg" /></a>Soon after I had started working, the guard started brooming around the temple, and so I cheekily remarked that although the platform was clean, his brooming didn't help much if the rubbish was thrown down a few steps away. He did tell me that "someone" (from the municipality?) was going to do something about it later on. I guess he just told me what I want to hear but let's see... Some passers-by always stop and comment as I clean because I think it's odd for them to see a white person dare put her hands in "shit", accepting to become an untouchable perhaps (I have to shower and clean <i>all</i> my clothes to be allowed back in the house afterwards - but don't worry, I do it whole-heartily at that point!) Quite a lot of passers-by stopped by and more of them showed an interested in what I was doing today. One woman asked me what I was doing, really sounding puzzled. As she passed by, with eagerness and positivity in my voice (I hope!) I answered "I'm cleaning! All this plastic is harming our earth!" and then as she took some distance, I shouted "Our earth is our God, we shouldn't spoil it!" Two women from our neighbours' house whom I know quite well passed by, too, and one of them made a remark about what I was doing. I exclaimed "All that plastic you see, it goes into the land. Then it goes into the plants. And we eat the plants! Do you want to eat plastic? then litter away!" - "That's right!" she answered. But the best was that kid.<br><br>A boy approached the lake with a couple of friends; they must have been 13 or so. He had a small polythene bag full of stuff in his hand and I knew full well what it was, and what he had come to do with it. After <i>puja</i>s (religious ceremonies), Hindus don't throw the items they have used into an ordinary bin but into water, the idea being that the ingredients return into the earth. I think another reason is that all the items have become sacred to the Hindus' eyes, and so they can't just throw it away like ordinary rubbish. In older days it was not a problem because all these items used to be natural and biodegradable, such as <i>paan</i> leaves, raw rice and turmeric powder, incense, etc. (for a list of common elements used for rituals, <a href="http://www.multiprayer.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=222:common-elements-used-in-hindu-puja&catid=57&Itemid=83" target="_new">click here</a>). Today however, this practice is a disaster, because many harmful items - especially plastic - are thrown into rivers and lakes... And whenever I see a local throw a plastic bag full into the lake in front of our house, my stomach turns. This is what the boy had come to do, obviously. As I looked at his bag the only item I saw sticking out was a big <i>paan</i> leaf. "Don't throw this into the lake!" I exclaimed to the boy. "But it's <i>puja</i> stuff!" he replied. "So throw the stuff into the water, but <i>please</i> don't throw the plastic bag; it harms the environment!" The boy walked a little further near the pipal tree, and I saw him <i>emptying the bag</i> into the water. I was thrilled as I saw that he didn't throw the bag! Then he came back to me, I told him to throw the polythene in our bin and he did so. "Thank you! Thank you!" I exclaimed profusely. I truly felt like it was a little victory...<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYNXlUw--4I/VqoN1C7wa7I/AAAAAAAACC0/xkd7o6U_2Y0/s1600/02-temple-left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img title="Look, it's clean on the left of the temple!" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYNXlUw--4I/VqoN1C7wa7I/AAAAAAAACC0/xkd7o6U_2Y0/s200/02-temple-left.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TLbcGUeQ7C4/VqoN2QWJ6II/AAAAAAAACC8/4My-tX164r4/s1600/03-temple-right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img title="Half clean on the right! I'll clean the slope tomorrow with Vijay!" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TLbcGUeQ7C4/VqoN2QWJ6II/AAAAAAAACC8/4My-tX164r4/s200/03-temple-right.jpg" /></a><br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3KzawgryQsU/VqoOgz2ChhI/AAAAAAAACDU/pS84ZYHM_7w/s1600/04-around-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img title="Clean!" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3KzawgryQsU/VqoOgz2ChhI/AAAAAAAACDU/pS84ZYHM_7w/s200/04-around-bench.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFb1Sg9ItSk/VqoONSS18AI/AAAAAAAACDQ/2tATXWietjA/s1600/05-around-statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img title="Clean!" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFb1Sg9ItSk/VqoONSS18AI/AAAAAAAACDQ/2tATXWietjA/s200/05-around-statue.jpg" /></a></div> Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-34922805384181333092015-12-25T17:03:00.000+00:002016-01-26T17:08:15.093+00:00Gecko heater!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WU7T4UBGIK8/VqenICtS09I/AAAAAAAAB_8/fQSSLQhS2TA/s1600/gecko-on-wifi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WU7T4UBGIK8/VqenICtS09I/AAAAAAAAB_8/fQSSLQhS2TA/s400/gecko-on-wifi.jpg" /></a></div>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-11979007721398035842015-09-08T11:47:00.000+01:002016-01-26T17:06:17.123+00:00The story of Niklas and LiliEight months no (proper) post!<br><br>We are back in India (Khajuraho) after three months in Europe.<br><br>I thought I would start blogging again with a story that started three and a half years ago. I remembered this incredible story when Ram Gopal passed by the house this morning...<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8B45XyXS5M/Ve6xdv8SM_I/AAAAAAAAByM/j8QmMryqMBc/s1600/familys-kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img title="The village kids" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8B45XyXS5M/Ve6xdv8SM_I/AAAAAAAAByM/j8QmMryqMBc/s200/familys-kids.jpg" /></a></div>It was in January 2012. We had some friends visiting from Belgium and we took them to one of the neighbouring villages for them to see some picturesque India. A very small village. I had visited it many times before, but this time, I can't remember why or how, we visited one house I had never seen.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-436ID4-3Uzw/Ve6xrUvoCWI/AAAAAAAAByU/Ub48VSpYBlo/s1600/clay-stove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img title="Old-fashioned clay stove" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-436ID4-3Uzw/Ve6xrUvoCWI/AAAAAAAAByU/Ub48VSpYBlo/s200/clay-stove.jpg" /></a></div> The family members were very excited about our visit. At some point during the evening after having our chai - it was getting dark - the ladies invited me into the kitchen. A very rustic, minimal kitchen, with a bitten-earth floor and an old-fashion clay stove. One woman was making chapatis and she asked me to roll one. As I did so, pretty well, they all got amazed and excited and I felt like I was their all-time heroine!<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3Uvgbdys5Q/Ve6x1yZZfAI/AAAAAAAAByc/8AvSP1ktAr4/s1600/vijay-courtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img title="Vijay in the house yard" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3Uvgbdys5Q/Ve6x1yZZfAI/AAAAAAAAByc/8AvSP1ktAr4/s200/vijay-courtyard.jpg" /></a></div>After a while I came out of the kitchen to sit with my friends, around men and children in the courtyard, and we were presented with a new-born baby boy, who was just a few days old. They put him in my lap, then in one of my friend's lap... and then the main family man asked me to... find him a name! I was astonished by this request! I didn't know if he was serious but I started to think about it anyway. All I could come up with was the name of my sister's son, Niklas, who I thought would be easy to pronounce for Indian people. I suggested it, and in turn they all tried to say "Niklas". They did pronounce it nicely, they liked it, and so the decided to keep it!<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8odhrj1JiJs/Ve6yRWFR19I/AAAAAAAAByk/58qUQBgPqio/s1600/baby-niklas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img title="Baby Niklas" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8odhrj1JiJs/Ve6yRWFR19I/AAAAAAAAByk/58qUQBgPqio/s200/baby-niklas.jpg" /></a></div>I felt very special. It was an immense honour to have been given this precious responsibility, and it was a very foreign name for the family to accept and still they had. As they had accepted the name, a little ceremony was performed. Not much was involved. Vijay told me that as I had no sweets to give, I should put a 100-rupee note in the hand of the child, as it was custom. I felt a bit annoyed about this constant involvement of money in Indian ceremonies; however as I had felt honoured to have given the name, I accepted and did it. Shortly after this we left the village en route back to Khajuraho...<br><br>~<br><br>Over a year passed and I completely forgot about the story... Until Ram Gopal, the baby's uncle who had invited us to visit his family house, came by our shop. "Do you remember him?" Vijay asked me. I rolled my eyes and pulled a face in embarrassment. "Niklas's uncle!" he said. Oh my God! Niklas was more than one year-old now, and it had been serious all along! His name indeed was Niklas! So a few days later we went back to the village to visit the family. I held Niklas in my arms. He was responding to the name I had given him! It was really moving.<br><br>Then Ram Gopal told me there was yet another new-born in the family, one of his cousins had just had a baby girl! She brought me the girl and guess what? She asked me to give her a name! Again!!! As I had given Niklas the name of my own sister's son's I immediately said "Noemie", her daughter's name. Niklas and Noemie in the Indian family, just like in my sister's family! The Indians had a hard time pronouncing it however, finding the combination of two vowels ([o] and [e]) difficult. I guess it would have been too perfect or something. Or too obvious. So I started thinking about a name. "Sophie" came to my mind but I thought they would have ruined it, because the sound [f] is closer to an aspirated [p] in Hindi, and they would have difficulties with spelling it. I paused some more and suddenly it was it. "Lili" popped in my head and it was cute and it was the easiest. "Lili!" I exclaimed. They all pronounced it in turn and it was indeed very easy. They all liked the sound of it, and so we proceeded to the little naming ceremony. I placed a 100-rupee note in the girl's hand, kissed her forehead and gave her back to her mother.<br><br>~<br><br>Over a year has passed and Ram Gopal passed by our shop this morning. "How is Niklas?" I asked. "Good!" he said. "And Lili?" I continued. "She's well". And then he added: "So when are you coming to visit our house?" Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-84309576144125693062015-03-06T17:43:00.001+00:002015-03-06T17:46:24.727+00:00"Children of the stars"Not inspired to write at length these days, but here is my new creation:<br><br>A website for my beautiful friend Marie-Françoise Bisson and her new school for children with autism & Down's syndrome in Varanasi.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjwbpCoC3nc/VPnnKcdkzsI/AAAAAAAABp4/EDvI-doOQco/s1600/top-title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjwbpCoC3nc/VPnnKcdkzsI/AAAAAAAABp4/EDvI-doOQco/s400/top-title.jpg" /></a></div> <a href="http://www.taarokebacche.org" target="_new">www.taarokebacche.org</a>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-15824943011608283942014-12-27T12:22:00.001+00:002016-09-26T11:37:43.314+01:00Apsara statue with sunglasses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-12_apsara-glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-12_apsara-glasses.jpg" /></a></div>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh 471606, India24.8318452 79.91985490000001824.7165587 79.75849340000002 24.9471317 80.081216400000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-33714170636973636822014-12-27T12:20:00.001+00:002016-09-26T11:38:33.074+01:00Monkey on a cow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-11_monkey-cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-11_monkey-cow.jpg" /></a></div>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0Jaipur, Rajasthan, India26.9124336 75.78727090000006726.4592396 75.141823900000063 27.3656276 76.432717900000071tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-77451887326734072862014-11-13T17:59:00.000+00:002016-09-26T11:39:00.339+01:00Modern monks...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-11-13_samsung-monks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-11-13_samsung-monks.jpg" /></a></div><br><br>I guess that's also India, hey?!Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0Select Citywalk Driveway, Saket District Centre, District Centre, Sector 6, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110017, India28.5293293 77.21876480000003128.525841800000002 77.213722300000029 28.5328168 77.223807300000033tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-60685486428646952472014-11-07T17:57:00.000+00:002016-09-26T11:39:39.757+01:00A very tidy little shoe shop...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-11-07_shoe-shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-11-07_shoe-shop.jpg" /></a></div><br><br>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh 471606, India24.8318452 79.91985490000001824.7165587 79.75849340000002 24.9471317 80.081216400000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-71666393794019047142014-11-03T17:55:00.000+00:002016-09-26T11:40:06.257+01:00How to make a beautiful pyramid in your fruit shop!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-11-03_anar-tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-11-03_anar-tape.jpg" /></a></div><br><br>Very easy: just use cellotape!Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0New Delhi, Delhi, India28.635308 77.2249600000000128.1893855 76.579513 29.081230499999997 77.870407000000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-92227586460373992642014-10-25T07:19:00.000+01:002014-10-25T07:54:35.959+01:0010-year violin anniversary!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRG6UvodIuc/VEsvWEb68II/AAAAAAAABkA/-n16oaemQos/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRG6UvodIuc/VEsvWEb68II/AAAAAAAABkA/-n16oaemQos/s200/01.jpg" title="25 October 2004"/></a></div>Today is my 10-year anniversary of being a violinist! Ten years ago today I bought my wonderful toy, my baby, my joy, from the amazingly talented <a href="http://www.burnettviolins.co.uk/" target="_new">Steve Burnett</a>, and I started learning violin - and changing my life... <a href="http://vio.livejournal.com/2004/10/25/" target="_new">Look, look, look!</a> ♥ (& <a href="http://viomeenasoni.com/music/violin-blog/" target="_new">this</a> is the journey... ♥)<br><br> ~<br><br> I have been feeling really good about the violin recently. The "super-fast" practice seems to be paying off, finally, after about 2 years of hard work and frustration. My shoulder doesn't even hurt anymore, and I've also finally taught myself to tap the beat with my knee or foot whilst sitting crossed-legged, in order to be able to follow the rhythm cycle while I play. It started off such a pain and so much frustration that I was feeling emotionally exhausted after 10 minutes. So I would give up regularly, but today I can almost "dance" continuously while I play and improvise, and it has really helped me to integrate the cycle a step deeper into my mind and body... Recently I've also forced myself to count "1, 2, 3, 4" <i>out loud</i> every 4 beats while I improvise. It was a small torture at first, but it's almost easy now, and it feels like my brain can focus a lot better on two things at the same time, playing and "seeing" the cycle somehow. It feels like I can breathe more, like it has given me freedom and a sense of space, and more confidence also. I guess it has literally helped me expand my consciousness...<br><br> And I have two concerts coming up in November:<br><br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1EZsirBn5A/VEs6ae8C03I/AAAAAAAABkQ/XamI5MBBLcY/s1600/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1EZsirBn5A/VEs6ae8C03I/AAAAAAAABkQ/XamI5MBBLcY/s200/05.jpg" title="Edinburgh, 2005" /></a></div>Firstly I have been invited to play a concert in Rajasthan, on 28 November! It is an American acquaintance I was meeting in the River Ashram since three years, who works on a cultural project in Jaipur. He has to organise concerts for his work and he loves the sound of my violin and so he asked <i>me</i> to play in concert! I have only played two solos so far and I (still!)(obviously!) lack performance experience, so I'm a little anxious about the concert, but I am also very happy and grateful for this opportunity to grow! So I have asked a (new) friend (for new friends come into our lives at the right time!) who plays beautiful flute (bansuri) and is an experienced performer to play a duet with me. Because I want to start playing with other instrumental musicians! Listening to one another and getting renewed inspiration... So we've been working towards this wee project... He teaches me a lot...<br><br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1L0oCuC_UMQ/VEs_TBpe9AI/AAAAAAAABkg/_YlT5uCpB84/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1L0oCuC_UMQ/VEs_TBpe9AI/AAAAAAAABkg/_YlT5uCpB84/s200/04.jpg" title="Edinburgh, 2005"/></a></div>Secondly, following my <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2014/09/finally-meeting-saskia-shubhendra-rao.html" target="_new">meeting with Saskia and Shubhendra Rao</a>, Saskia asked me if <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2014/01/ajays-violin.html" target="_new">my Khajuraho student</a> would accompany the school kids for their school concert on 14 November, in <i>Delhi</i>! At first I didn't register the offer, as I was myself quite intimidated to meet Saskia for the first time, and I was dealing with my own emotion. So I told her it would probably be difficult to "take him out of his family" and bring him to Delhi, as he's just 13. But a few days later Saskia's question popped back into my head and I thought "Hell no! It won't be difficult!" We're not in "all-regulated" Europe here, and Udit belongs to Vijay's extended family so it won't be a problem if I travel with him and Vijay to Delhi. It is a wonderful opportunity and there is no way I should let it go. And so Vijay went to ask Udit's parents and they agreed to let him go to Delhi with us. When I asked Udit if he wanted to play on a big stage in Delhi, he screamed with delight! So I have already sent him the recording of the first song we have to play along with the notation, and four days later he phoned me, played it to me, and it was almost perfect already. I will go to Khajuraho from 4 to 12 November and I just have another small song to teach him in those 8 days, before we head off to Delhi... It will be wonderful to take my young countryside-student to the big city for a concert and for him to meet other (& great!) musicians!!!<br><br> Happy, happy, happy! ♥<br><br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVuq3KNvkRI/VEs_-cwL9KI/AAAAAAAABko/VA_kvbGHUH4/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVuq3KNvkRI/VEs_-cwL9KI/AAAAAAAABko/VA_kvbGHUH4/s400/03.jpg" title="Edinburgh, 2005" /></a></div>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-72854557188736447612014-09-29T04:33:00.000+01:002014-10-01T17:20:24.685+01:00(Sham)poo-free: still getting better!This one will just be a wee update. I didn't really think I would post again on my poo-free experience after <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2014/07/a-year-without-shampoo-how-to-wash-your.html" target="_new">my last post</a>, but it's 14 months on, and I'm amazed to notice that my hair is still changing and reacting to its new environment... I can now wash my hair (with soap nuts or baking soda) not after 5-7 days, but after 10 days of just rinsing with water!<br><br>I wonder if one day I'll get to the stage where I don't need to wash my hair with anything but water, like <a href="http://www.thepolivkafamily.com/2013/02/beyond-no-poo-water-washing-update/" target="_new">this lady</a>...? Let's see... I shall keep posting...<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBBW5EM8-Qk/VCwodgYl_nI/AAAAAAAABjs/Xuydg5-_ERA/s1600/IMG_2457%2B(copy).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBBW5EM8-Qk/VCwodgYl_nI/AAAAAAAABjs/Xuydg5-_ERA/s200/IMG_2457%2B(copy).JPG" title="My hair after 10 days of just rincing with water!"/></a></div>I just want to exclaim: THE HUMAN BODY IS AMAZING!<br><br>This got me reading from people with longer no-poo experience than me, so here are a couple of really interesting articles below, and a video...<br><br><li><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11021507/I-havent-used-shampoo-in-2-years-and-my-hair-has-never-looked-better.-Welcome-to-the-UKs-no-poo-movement.html" target="_new">I haven't used shampoo in 2 years and my hair has never looked better</a> (telegraph.co.uk)</li><li><a href="http://thehairpin.com/2014/01/three-years-without-shampoo" target="_new">3 hair without shampoo</a> (thehairpin.com)</li><li><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/why-i-havent-washed-my-hair-in-three-years-9736427.html" target="_new">Why I haven't washed my hair in 3 years</a> (independent.co.uk)</li><li><a href="http://youtu.be/emSX27OVleE" target="_new">This girl hasn't washed her hair in 5 years!</a> (youtube.com)</li> Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-15650903025189148962014-09-22T07:42:00.002+01:002014-09-22T09:11:59.063+01:00Finally meeting Saskia & Shubhendra Rao!About four or five years ago someone gave me a recording of a cello & sitar concert. I don't remember at all who gave it to me. All I remember is that I couldn't stop listening to it, and that for an entire year I had no idea who the musicians were because no names were displayed on the screen of my crappy mp3 player. Finally, when I came back to Europe I bought myself a laptop and transferred my small mp3s collection onto it. One day I played the cello & sitar recording and, oh wow! My computer did display the musicians' names!<br><br> This is how I finally got to know about the cellist <a href="http://www.saskiarao.com" target="_new">Saskia Rao de Haas</a> and sitarist <a href="http://www.shubhendrarao.com" target="_new">Shubhendra Rao</a>. I did a search on the internet and found out that they were husband and wife, she was Dutch, and they lived in Delhi. I became quite obsessed with them and again I couldn't stop listening to the recording. I just loved that she played Indian music on a <i>cello</i> and that she was a European woman married to an Indian man (I wasn't yet, but one day I would be one too) and that she lived in India. She kind of became an ideal and inspiration to me, even though I felt very small in comparison, and I really wanted to see them both in concert one day. A while later I added them on Facebook to be notified of any future concerts...<br><br> Maybe a year after that I had to go to Delhi so I dared sending her a message: "I'm going to Delhi for a few days. Do you have any concerts coming up by any chance?" She didn't, but she gave me her phone number and told me to give her a ring from Delhi! Once there, even though I felt shy and "inadequate", I dared to phone her. I never got the time to go and meet her though, and it was probably best because I <i>really</i> felt far too shy, and Vijay felt too uncomfortable about visiting a stranger. Yet we did talk quite a while on the phone, even though I have no idea how the words came out of my mouth because I didn't know why she should be interested in <i>me</i>. She was really nice and friendly though...<br><br> About another year later I found out that she was going to play a concert in Delhi at the occasion of an album release, on 20 September 2012. I couldn't wait any longer. I contacted her and said I was going to come to that. Saskia was very welcoming, I got really excited and I bought my train ticket. Just a few hours before I was due to leave though, I received an email from the French embassy, in which it was strongly advised <i>not</i> to go to Delhi that day because some violent riots were going on near the train station! I couldn't believe it! I called the embassy to get some more information, and then Saskia to hear her opinion on the matter. In the end I cancelled my ticket and didn't go to Delhi...<br><br> Time passed. I went to Delhi a few times but never long enough to dare to phone her again, or I was busy with other things anyway. Many years had passed since I had discovered this mp3, and I still hadn't seen her in concert or met her. And why did she never play any concerts in Varanasi? Perhaps I just wasn't ready to see her now, but I knew it would happen one day... One day...<br><br> I regularly kept checking Facebook for any concerts nearby... In the beginning of August I saw that husband and wife had founded an association, the <a href="http://www.music4all.org" target="_new">Shubhendra & Saskia Rao Foundation</a>, to promote and improve musical education for children in schools... Interesting!<br><br> I have to admit that when I'm in Khajuraho, I tend to check Facebook a little too much when I feel lonely. Especially after a long time feeling isolated in my small Indian woman's life in traditional family, I start missing my Banaras friends and my exciting musical life... I don't have "proper" friends as such in Khajuraho, and so Facebook is a bit of a way-out for me... And then they posted a new entry, but that one really caught my attention. It said: <i>'Teacher Training Program' introductory meeting on Sunday. Want to become a trained music teacher? Want to know more about the program? Come join us... Interested, but busy on Sunday? We have more meeting coming up soon.</i><br><br> Now that entry was <i>not</i> going to stay in the unreal world of Internetland! I just couldn't let it go; it had to become reality! I couldn't stop thinking about it... With a pounding heart I grabbed my phone and dialled Saskia's phone number... She was really happy that I was interested in the project and wanted to know more about it. Living in Khajuraho and Varanasi I wasn't sure how I would be able to help them in the near future, but even though I only have one student in Khajuraho at the moment I too teach music to children, and after all we too are starting a <a href="http://www.partage-culture-sarasvati.org/ENGLISH/other-pages/partners.htm" target="_new">new music school</a> with the <a href="http://www.partage-culture-sarasvati.org" target="_new">Partage & Culture Sarasvati</a> association. So it would be great if I went and see how Saskia worked! She was really friendly and suggested that I come to Delhi mid-September, to go to the school with her and see how she taught. Later she also suggested that I stay with a student of hers, Nawa.<br><br> I was really excited. It was going to happen now! Not only I was going to meet Saskia, <i>finally</i>, but also Life had provided me with a brilliant <i>reason</i> to meet her!<br><br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OkcOPznQAfU/VB_DeKQlSoI/AAAAAAAABjQ/AT_rSh7CmWw/s1600/saskia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OkcOPznQAfU/VB_DeKQlSoI/AAAAAAAABjQ/AT_rSh7CmWw/s200/saskia1.jpg" title="With Nawa & Saskia" /></a></div>And so I went to Delhi from 14 to 19 September. I had an amazing time staying with Nawa and her flatmate, a sitar student. With Nawa and Saskia I taught music to girls in the Nizamudddin school. I felt completely in line with the way they teach music. On my last day I also took a violin class with Saskia which overwhelmed me with emotion and offered me a new way to enrich my practice... I have to say it was also really interesting to stay in a wealthy area of Delhi and to get a taster of the city's music scene! And the best in all this is that it feels like this is just the beginning of a beautiful collaboration...!<br><br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7IsRO9VU5U/VB_DmjoS4nI/AAAAAAAABjY/3YpYcLo71C4/s1600/saskia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7IsRO9VU5U/VB_DmjoS4nI/AAAAAAAABjY/3YpYcLo71C4/s320/saskia2.jpg" title="With Saskia & Shubhendra Rao" /></a></div><br> <b>More information:</b><br><br><li>Official <a href="http://music4all.org/" target="_new">Shubhendra and Saskia Rao Foundation</a> website</li><li>Shubhendra and Saskia Rao Foundation on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shubhendra-Saskia-Rao-Foundation/776153555748991?sk=timeline" target="_new">Facebook</a></li><li>Interview by Shubhendra Rao in <a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Shubhendra-Rao/291671" target="_new">Outlook India</a></li><li>Delhi-based musicians Shubhendra and Saskia Rao are all set to take music education to every child: <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/school-notes/article6292058.ece" target="_new">The Hindu</a></li><li>Article about the launch of the Shubhendra & Saskia Rao Foundation in the <a href="http://www.thestatesman.net/news/72541-enriching-music.html#.U_YWcgVx92E.gmail?page=2" target="_new">Stateman</a></li><a href="" target="_new"> Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-69304874094459776572014-09-12T15:54:00.000+01:002016-09-26T11:41:13.726+01:00Men cooking chapati under a bus!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-09_chapati-under-bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-09_chapati-under-bus.jpg" /></a></div>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India25.3176452 82.97391440000001225.0879947 82.651190900000017 25.547295700000003 83.296637900000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-12455554488632572032014-08-28T14:56:00.000+01:002014-08-29T15:09:12.759+01:00Overdue updateI've been writing quite a lot on my <a href="http://vio-confidential.blogspot.com/" target="_new">confidential blog</a> recently but nothing on here...<br><br> I am still in Khajuraho, and I'll have been here most of the time since 15 May! I did go back to Banaras at the beginning of this month, but in the end I only stayed there for about a week and came back to Khajuraho for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhan" target="_new">Raksha Bandhan</a>. I thought we would visit Vijay's sister but it hasn't happened, and I'm still here because we are doing up our new room and I want to have my say in the works... And as we all know, "Indian-style" timing is pretty sloooooow, and so the works are taking longer than expected. The plumber was supposed to come in two days; on the third day he still hasn't come, so Vijay goes to try and find him but he can't, so he checks another one who will come on the fourth day, in the end the first plumber agrees to come, but on the fifth day he hasn't come because it was raining... Ya know - this sort of thing!<br><br> And so I've been keeping myself busy writing, and in the last week mainly designing a new website... But now that I've done all I could do on it I'm really missing my life in Banaras, especially my musical friends! I'm still teaching my young student <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2014/01/ajays-violin.html" target="_new">Ajay</a> here though, which is great fun. He is now my only musical companion here and thank God I have him, because I have stopped teaching <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2013/11/how-life-designs-my-music-syllabus-and.html" target="_new">the music teacher's son</a> who has now gone to another city for his studies. Besides I have finally stopped going to his father's <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2013/08/music-classes-in-old-palace.html" target="_new">music classes</a> because he no longer has time to teach me anything, and I'm bored with accompanying the children because I no longer feel I learn from it and most of the time there's nothing to play because the kids are not ready and I just sit and wait... It seems the flame has gone out and I'm also bored with the teacher's traditional narrow-mindedness, whilst he seems tired of my silliness and playfulness. He is just too serious for me and I think music should just be fun! I just feel I no-longer have a proper space in that school, and it's probably a good thing that I move on...<br><br> I love teaching Ajay more than ever though, and he keeps surprising me with his initiative, with how quickly he grasps things, with how excited he is about learning music. I love teaching him because he only has me, and with him <i>I do what I want</i>. Recently I've also been writing harmonies for some of the <i>bhajans</i> I did learn with the music teacher, and now I try them on with Ajay. I must say he is a much better audience than the music teacher! Ajay really loves my harmonies! So I teach him the songs as I've been taught them, and when he's ready to play them well I play the second voice with him. It brings a new dimension to our play, a new wee happy dimension...<br><br> Monsoon was <i>very</i> shy this year. It hardly rained, really. Now the temperatures have dropped somewhat, it's not too hot, but it's super-humid so we just sweat like beats constantly. The worst time of my day is when I have to switch off the fan to broom the house... After the tasks is done I have to sit for 10 minutes by the air-cooler to dry myself. Obviously I also ended up removing my necklace, my anklets, my bracelets and two of my rings, because they give me red, itchy rashes! No space for being lady-like in <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2010/08/welcome-to-sweatyland.html" target="_new">Sweatyland</a>! I could take a shower but after 5 minutes it's just the same so I prefer to save water (and electricity)... So yeah: we just have one or two months left to go in Sweatyland, but compared to the hell of <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2014/06/sticky-hot-june-in-banaras.html" target="_new">June</a>, this is nothing! And in two months, I'll be able to wear jeans again! Horrah!<br><br> And I long to go back to Banaras (even though the sticky-and-sweaty-ness will be worse than here), and indeed I hope I will return to my "fully-independent" life in a week or so. Actually I have quite a few exciting musical projects coming up and I'm really looking forward to start working on them. But for now, while I am in Khajuraho they are just... pending...Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-55364178358952420562014-08-20T16:03:00.000+01:002014-08-20T16:17:11.360+01:00On Indian women's conditions & conjugal mattersTo read these two entries, please <a href="http://www.viomeenasoni.com/contact/index.htm" target="_new">email me</a> to request an invitation.<br><br><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--BvACwon3tQ/U_S73CxVYnI/AAAAAAAABiI/AJ88F7G0dw0/s1600/wedding-puja.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--BvACwon3tQ/U_S73CxVYnI/AAAAAAAABiI/AJ88F7G0dw0/s320/wedding-puja.jpg" /></a><br><br> If you already have an invitation, you can read them here:<br> <a href="http://vio-confidential.blogspot.in/2014/08/on-indian-womens-conditions-conjugal.html" target="_new">Part 1</a> & <a href="http://vio-confidential.blogspot.in/2014/08/on-indian-womens-conditions-conjugal_19.html" target="_new">Part 2</a>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-6323335257842416722014-08-15T18:52:00.000+01:002016-09-26T11:41:44.164+01:00Bulb recycling/repairing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-08_bulb-recycling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-08_bulb-recycling.jpg" /></a></div>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh 471606, India24.8318452 79.91985490000001824.7165587 79.75849340000002 24.9471317 80.081216400000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-84311217783195218192014-08-12T07:01:00.000+01:002016-09-26T11:42:28.511+01:00Dustbin full of paan-spit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-07_beurkbin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.friends-in-khajuraho.com/vio/india/images/only-india/2014-07_beurkbin.jpg" /></a></div>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh 471606, India24.8318452 79.91985490000001824.7165587 79.75849340000002 24.9471317 80.081216400000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-46231980122502418262014-07-28T19:01:00.000+01:002014-08-20T16:08:03.752+01:00Travelling with the familyTo read this entry, please <a href="http://www.viomeenasoni.com/contact/index.htm" target="_new">email me</a> to request an invitation.<br><br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMA39485m40/U_S5qu9F2RI/AAAAAAAABiA/qYFGkd4dFEc/s1600/61_taj-mahal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMA39485m40/U_S5qu9F2RI/AAAAAAAABiA/qYFGkd4dFEc/s320/61_taj-mahal.jpg" /></a></div><br><br> If you already have an invitation, <a href="http://vio-confidential.blogspot.in/2014/07/travelling-with-family.html" target="_new">you can read the entry here</a>.Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-62107287277473047592014-07-23T07:00:00.001+01:002014-09-25T18:53:53.140+01:00A year without shampoo & how to wash your hair with reetha (soap nuts)<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eRw5puD5RNY/U7w3ZCkv5NI/AAAAAAAABag/pbaGyYEt--Y/s1600/french.gif" /><a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.com/2014/07/comment-se-laver-les-cheveux-aux-noix.html">(La même page en français!) </a><br><br>Today is a big day for me! Yes, today is my first anniversary of being poo-free. I have not used shampoo for a whole year, and I am still delighted about this change in my life.<br><br>I have not written anything about being poo-free for six months, yet my hair has changed and my experience has evolved further since then.<br><br>(1) The first thing is that it will have taken about 8 or 9 months to make a difference, but now I really lose my hair a <i>lot</i> less than I used to. And here in India I used to lose my hair more during the hot season, but those days of are over, finally.<br><br>(2) The second thing is that it took me quite some time, but I have finally learnt how to use reetha (soap nuts) properly. It used to clean my hair well sometimes and badly at other times; now I finally have the hang of it. As a result I have also grown to like reetha more than baking soda, which I only use when it is inconvenient to soak reetha overnight, for instance after a night on the train or if I have forgotten to soak it the day before I want to wash my hair.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5L6Fgl1DX0/U7rOeHvuWcI/AAAAAAAABYg/HnFEApccWKU/s1600/01_reetha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5L6Fgl1DX0/U7rOeHvuWcI/AAAAAAAABYg/HnFEApccWKU/s200/01_reetha.jpg" /></a></div>And so for my first anniversary, I have decided to write a detailed guide on how to use reetha/soap nuts properly - or at least how I use it and how it works for me. Because most of the websites I found on going "poo-free" talked about baking soda only, and because I only found (very few) websites explaining how to wash hair with powdered reetha, but absolutely no-one that explained how to use soap nuts in their natural form!<br><br>NB: Soap nuts are a cheap local product for me because I live in India! I am aware that they are very expensive in Western countries; still they can usually be found in organic/health food shops so feel free to try! If they are too inconvenient/pricey for you, there's plenty information on how to use baking soda in the list of links below!<br><br><br><b>(1) Preparation:</b><br><br><b><i>In the evening of the day before washing your hair</i></b><br><br>It's very simple, but you have to remember it. If you wash your hair in the morning, the evening before put some soap nuts in a bowl of water. Some people use hot water, but I don't find this necessary if the nuts are going to soak all night.<br><br>- My hair is quite long and I use <b>8 to 10 nuts</b>. It is important that <b>the nuts are open</b> before you soak them, since the soap is secreted from inside the nuts. To open a nut you can use a knife to cut through its soft top and crack it open. Alternatively, if you think about it, about 3-4 hours after soaking the nuts are soft and easy to open by hand. A round black stone comes out from each nut; you can remove them from the water if you want as you won't use them.<br>- <b>Do not add too much water</b>, otherwise the soap will be too diluted and it will not wash well. I pour about 2 cm of water in a medium-sized bowl, like on the picture below.<br><br><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IquiHzsRbxY/U7rOeq9yHJI/AAAAAAAABYk/yvDKe-jtKtM/s1600/02_open-nut.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IquiHzsRbxY/U7rOeq9yHJI/AAAAAAAABYk/yvDKe-jtKtM/s200/02_open-nut.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EYqp5oLkLh4/U7rOgLPTKPI/AAAAAAAABYs/SFIltkaj2bk/s1600/03_night-before.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EYqp5oLkLh4/U7rOgLPTKPI/AAAAAAAABYs/SFIltkaj2bk/s200/03_night-before.jpg" /></a><br><br><b><i>In the morning before shower</i></b><br><br>You will need:<br>- the soapy water in which the nuts have soaked overnight; it should be dark yellow/brownish.<br>- the juice of a lemon in a small cup, topped-up with water, for conditioning;<br>- a <i>clean</i> comb. I use a wooden comb which I regularly clean using soda becarbonate and a toothbrush.<br><br><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-so1xmZ31gIQ/U7wQG2skhPI/AAAAAAAABZ0/kzsXOl3cIEk/s1600/04_morning-after.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-so1xmZ31gIQ/U7wQG2skhPI/AAAAAAAABZ0/kzsXOl3cIEk/s200/04_morning-after.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0XjKlV6GD0/U7rOlI52G-I/AAAAAAAABY0/Zrv_kxge7mo/s1600/05_lemon-juice.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0XjKlV6GD0/U7rOlI52G-I/AAAAAAAABY0/Zrv_kxge7mo/s200/05_lemon-juice.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UErvwJ-Z5cY/U7rOl-TVkdI/AAAAAAAABY8/DviUNuPC_Vk/s1600/06_lemon-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UErvwJ-Z5cY/U7rOl-TVkdI/AAAAAAAABY8/DviUNuPC_Vk/s200/06_lemon-water.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2A1IYxQ3DL4/U7rOoM-Ij0I/AAAAAAAABZE/YB_YVVkNnXQ/s1600/07_clean-comb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2A1IYxQ3DL4/U7rOoM-Ij0I/AAAAAAAABZE/YB_YVVkNnXQ/s200/07_clean-comb.jpg" /></a><br><br><br><b>(2) Hair washing with reetha:</b><br><br>Remove the nuts from the water and keep them aside, as they still contain some soap and you will be able to soak and use them again. Throw away the black stones. The water is now soapy, and it should be quite dark yellow in colour like on the photo above. If it's too limpid it won't wash your hair well enough.<br><br>Pour the soapy water little by little onto your wet hair - tilt your head back so that the water won't go into your eyes, as the soap stings them badly! Pour a little water, massage your head; pour a little more, massage, and so on. If your hair is long it's handy, because the length of your hair will get very foamy with reetha whereas your scalp won't! I use the length of my hair as a "glove" to massage my scalp, so it gets a little more soapy and it washes better.<br><br>After you have poured all the water and massaged your scalp and hair well, rinse well.<br><br><br><b>(3) Conditioning with lemon-water</b><br><br>Slowly pour all the lemony water onto your head and hair, tilting your head back so the lemon juice won't sting your eyes. Comb your hair as you would do with an ordinary conditioner. The hair is easy to comb as the lemon juice makes it nice and soft. Rinse well.<br><br>That's it!<br><br><br><b>(4) Remarks</b><br><br>- Reetha doesn't wash out oil well, so I no longer put oil in my hair (I never did much anyway, but this is a problem for many Indian woman because they are used to putting oil in their hair!)<br><br>- The soapy water is cold by morning time, and it may be chilly to pour cold water onto yourself! I live in India where I shower in cold water half of the year anyway because it's so hot, thus it doesn't matter, but in the winter I prefer to tilt my head forward so the cold water won't run down on my body - in which case you have to be extra careful not to put any soapy water in your eyes - it really hurts, your eyes get all red, and it takes a while to wash out...<br><br>- You can use apple cider vinegar instead of the lemon juice for conditioning. It works in exactly the same way; instead of the lemon juice simply pour a tablespoon of vinegar (same amount as the lemon juice) in your cup and top it up with water. Pour it onto your hair and head, comb your hair, rinse well.<br><br>- It is not actually necessary to condition your hair with lemon/vinegar after using reetha, but the wet hair after washing it with reetha feels kind of "papery" and uneasy to handle. Although the hair feels normally soft once it has dried, I prefer to condition it with lemon water, as it makes it really soft and easy to comb.<br><br>- In theory you can reuse the soap nuts 2-3 times more. I find that for hair washing though, they don't work well a second time. So what I do is I keep the used nuts of two washes and then only I use them to wash my hair. In other words, I need 8-10 new nuts but 16-20 used nuts to wash my hair well.<br><br>- I wash my hair with reetha (or baking soda) about once a week. In between two washes I massage my hair in plain water everyday as this keeps it clean for longer. (And in India it's a great thing because there is so much dust that it gets grubby quite quickly!) Note that in a hot country like India, half of the year I shower in cold water which doesn't clean the hair as well as hot water! And in the winter I rinse my hair (with hot water) every two days only because I don't feel like wetting it every single day.<br><br><br><b>(5) Results</b><br><br>- My hair is silky and soft (OK, it always was!)<br>- It falls a lot less.<br>- As a result it feels more voluminous.<br>- It gets greasy a lot less quickly, and when it is greasy it doesn't show as much as it used to.<br><br><b>My dirty hair after 6 days of just rinsing with water, before I wash it with reetha:</b><br><br><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijxYobJ7XD8/U7rR29EGBrI/AAAAAAAABZc/9VFhDhUi1TM/s1600/dirtyhair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijxYobJ7XD8/U7rR29EGBrI/AAAAAAAABZc/9VFhDhUi1TM/s200/dirtyhair2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8qNYw4k1JQ/U7rR2bPQL0I/AAAAAAAABZU/XJFR7Ewj1Gc/s1600/dirtyhair3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8qNYw4k1JQ/U7rR2bPQL0I/AAAAAAAABZU/XJFR7Ewj1Gc/s200/dirtyhair3.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TST92pHMicU/U7rR7OGP8PI/AAAAAAAABZk/dy3VRxTcAJ8/s1600/dirtyhair4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TST92pHMicU/U7rR7OGP8PI/AAAAAAAABZk/dy3VRxTcAJ8/s200/dirtyhair4.jpg" /></a><br>It doesn't look too bad when my hair is tied-up, even after a week!<br><br><b>My hair just after I have washed it with reetha:</b><br><br><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbexZjA5mxE/U7wQ1HL79WI/AAAAAAAABZ8/rEQIY5R6HeY/s1600/cleanhair1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbexZjA5mxE/U7wQ1HL79WI/AAAAAAAABZ8/rEQIY5R6HeY/s200/cleanhair1.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwUIdHR9j3M/U7wQ2lEU5dI/AAAAAAAABaE/GnqXWZ2f2NQ/s1600/cleanhair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwUIdHR9j3M/U7wQ2lEU5dI/AAAAAAAABaE/GnqXWZ2f2NQ/s200/cleanhair2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tw2vuLxDWLo/U7wQ4b6JMDI/AAAAAAAABaM/ycV2l6QxL00/s1600/cleanhair4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tw2vuLxDWLo/U7wQ4b6JMDI/AAAAAAAABaM/ycV2l6QxL00/s200/cleanhair4.jpg" /></a><br><br><b>(6) More information on how to go poo-free:</b><br><br>On how to quit shampoo using baking soda & vinegar:<br>English:<br><a href="http://thehairpin.com/2011/04/how-to-quit-shampoo-without-becoming-disgusting" target="_new">thehairpin.com</a><br><a href="http://simplemom.net/how-to-clean-your-hair-without-shampoo/" target="_new">simplemom.net</a><br><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Wash-Your-Hair-Without-Shampoo" target="_new">wikihow.com</a><br><a href="http://fulfilledhomemaking.com/no-poo-shampoo/" target="_new">Shampoo Free from Now On!</a> - with photos!<br>French:<br><a href="jardinamayan.blogspot.in/2011/07/le-jour-ou-jai-decide-darreter-le.html" target="_new">jardinamayan.blogspot.com</a><br><br>On washing hair only with water!<br><a href="http://www.thepolivkafamily.com/2013/01/beyond-no-poo-washing-only-with-water/#axzz2cskAcNNv" target="_new">Beyond no poo only with water</a> - I have not tried this I have to say...<br><br>On washing hair with natural powders, including reetha powder:<br>(French only)<br><a href="http://josephine-au-naturel.blogspot.in/2013/06/jarrete-le-shampooing.html?m=1" target="_new">Joséphine au natur'elle</a><br><a href="http://www.mesoinsnaturels.com/p/les-poudres.html?m=1" target="_new">Poudres pour les cheveux</a>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-5795706091704154062014-07-23T07:00:00.000+01:002014-09-25T18:52:52.393+01:00Comment se laver les cheveux aux noix de lavage ("ritha")Aujourd'hui est un grand jour pour moi! Et oui, c'est le premier anniversaire de ma nouvelle vie "poo-free", c'est-à-dire sans shampooing, et je suis ravie de ce changement! J'ai déjà écrit plusieurs articles sur ce blog depuis que j'ai arrêté le shampooing (<a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/search/label/poo-free">ici</a>) mais ils sont en anglais. Aujourd'hui j'ai décidé d'écrire en français pour tout ceux et celles qui me demandent des traductions...<br><br>J'ai commencé l'aventure en utilisant du bicarbonate de soude et du jus de citron, comme indiqué sur la plupart des sites "poo-free" notamment <a href="jardinamayan.blogspot.in/2011/07/le-jour-ou-jai-decide-darreter-le.html" target="_new">celui-ci</a> (le seul que j'ai trouvé en français). Cependant j'ai découvert après quelques mois (et après 6 ans en Inde!) que les noix de lavage (la <i>ritha</i>) sont un produit local pour moi, et qu'elles servent aussi bien à laver le linge que les cheveux! Aucun site internet n'expliquait comment s'en servir mais j'avais déjà essayé pour le linge, alors j'ai tenté le coup... Les premiers mois ce n'était pas toujours concluant. Parfois mes cheveux étaient magnifiquement propres, d'autres fois la <i>ritha</i> les laissait un peu gras et je devais les relaver après trois jours. J'aurai mis du temps mais depuis que j'ai compris le truc, et je vais l'expliquer ci-dessous, les noix de lavage fonctionnent à merveille à tous les coups. Aujourd'hui je les préfère au bicarbonade de soude, que j'utilise désormais quand il n'est pas pratique de faire tremper les noix la veille de me laver les cheveux, par exemple si je veux me les laver après une nuit de train ou si j'ai oublié de faire tremper les noix.<br><br>Au final la période de transition (cf. <a href="jardinamayan.blogspot.in/2011/07/le-jour-ou-jai-decide-darreter-le.html" target="_new">le site</a>) n'aura pas été trop difficile pour moi, d'autant plus qu'en Inde je m'attache souvent les cheveux car il fait chaud, et que la plupart des Indiens s'huilent les cheveux alors l'effet "gras" ne choque personne ici! Par contre cela aura pris 8 ou 9 mois pour que la difference soit visible: je perds nettement moins mes cheveux qu'avant.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5L6Fgl1DX0/U7rOeHvuWcI/AAAAAAAABYg/HnFEApccWKU/s1600/01_reetha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5L6Fgl1DX0/U7rOeHvuWcI/AAAAAAAABYg/HnFEApccWKU/s200/01_reetha.jpg" /></a></div>Et donc pour mon premier anniversaire sans shampooing j'ai décidé d'écrire un guide détaillé expliquant comment utiliser les noix de lavage - où du moins, comment je les utilise et comment elles fonctionnent pour moi. Parce que jusqu'ici je n'ai trouvé qu'un seul site internet parlant de la <i>ritha</i> pour laver les cheveux, et il explique seulement comment l'utiliser <i>en poudre</i>. Hors ici je trouve les noix telles qu'elles. Alors en avant pour ma contribution dans le monde sans shampooing!<br><br>Note: Je sais que les noix de lavage sont très chères dans les pays occidentaux (ce qui explique que la plupart des sites "poo-free" traitent du bicarbonate de soude), mais on les trouve quand-même dans les magasins bio si vous voulez essayer. Si elles sont trop chère ou introuvables pour vous, j'ai ajouté en bas de la page une liste de sites expliquant comment arrêter le shampooing en lui substituant le bicarbonate de soude. Désolée, la majorité de ces sites est en anglais, mais comme je l'ai déjà mentionné plus haut, <a href="jardinamayan.blogspot.in/2011/07/le-jour-ou-jai-decide-darreter-le.html" target="_new">celui-ci</a> est en français.<br><br><br><b>(1) Préparation:</b><br><br><b><i>La veille au soir, si vous vous lavez les cheveux le lendemain matin</i></b><br><br>C'est très simple, mais il ne faut pas oublier de le faire sinon c'est rapé! Si vous vous lavez les cheveux le matin, faites tremper les noix dans un bol d'eau la veille au soir. On lit parfois que l'eau doit être bouillante, mais je ne trouve pas que ce soit nécessaire si les noix vont tremper toute la nuit.<br><br>- Mes cheveux sont longs et j'utilise <b>de 8 a 10 noix</b>. Il faut absolument que <b>les noix soient ouvertes</b> avant de les faire tremper, car le savon est sécrété à l'intérieur de la noix. Pour ouvrir une noix coupez-la sur le dessus avec un couteau et cassez-la. C'est un peu dur, mais vous pouvez aussi la casser à la main 3-4 heures après qu'elle aie trempé car elle aura ramoli et s'ouvrira facilement. Il y a un gros noyau noir dans la noix, vous pouvez le jeter, vous n'en aurez pas besoin.<br>- <b>Ne mettez pas trop d'eau</b>, sinon le savon sera trop dilué et la <i>ritha</i> ne vous lavera pas bien les cheveux. Moi j'ajoute environ 2 cm d'eau dans un bol de taille moyenne, comme sur la photo ci-dessous.<br><br><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IquiHzsRbxY/U7rOeq9yHJI/AAAAAAAABYk/yvDKe-jtKtM/s1600/02_open-nut.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IquiHzsRbxY/U7rOeq9yHJI/AAAAAAAABYk/yvDKe-jtKtM/s200/02_open-nut.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EYqp5oLkLh4/U7rOgLPTKPI/AAAAAAAABYs/SFIltkaj2bk/s1600/03_night-before.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EYqp5oLkLh4/U7rOgLPTKPI/AAAAAAAABYs/SFIltkaj2bk/s200/03_night-before.jpg" /></a><br><br><b><i>Le matin avant la douche</i></b><br><br>Vous avez besoin de:<br>- l'eau savonneuse dans laquelle vos noix ont trempé toute la nuit. L'eau doit être jaune foncée à tendance brune;<br>- le jus d'un citon dans une petite tasse auquel vous rajoutez de l'eau pour remplir la tasse, comme démélant;<br>- un peigne <i>propre</i>. J'utilise un peigne en bois que je nettoie régulièrement avec du bicarbonate de soude et une brosse à dents.<br><br><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-so1xmZ31gIQ/U7wQG2skhPI/AAAAAAAABZ0/kzsXOl3cIEk/s1600/04_morning-after.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-so1xmZ31gIQ/U7wQG2skhPI/AAAAAAAABZ0/kzsXOl3cIEk/s200/04_morning-after.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0XjKlV6GD0/U7rOlI52G-I/AAAAAAAABY0/Zrv_kxge7mo/s1600/05_lemon-juice.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0XjKlV6GD0/U7rOlI52G-I/AAAAAAAABY0/Zrv_kxge7mo/s200/05_lemon-juice.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UErvwJ-Z5cY/U7rOl-TVkdI/AAAAAAAABY8/DviUNuPC_Vk/s1600/06_lemon-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UErvwJ-Z5cY/U7rOl-TVkdI/AAAAAAAABY8/DviUNuPC_Vk/s200/06_lemon-water.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2A1IYxQ3DL4/U7rOoM-Ij0I/AAAAAAAABZE/YB_YVVkNnXQ/s1600/07_clean-comb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2A1IYxQ3DL4/U7rOoM-Ij0I/AAAAAAAABZE/YB_YVVkNnXQ/s200/07_clean-comb.jpg" /></a><br><br><br><b>(2) Se laver les cheveux avec les noix de lavage:</b><br><br>Retirez les noix de l'eau et gardez-les de coté car elles contiennent encore du savon et vous pourrez les réutiliser plus tard. Jetez les noyaux si vous ne l'avez pas fait avant. L'eau savonneuse doit être jaune foncée à tendance brune comme sur la photo ci-dessus, si elle est trop limpide elle ne vous lavera pas bien les cheveux. <br><br>Mouillez vos cheveux. Versez l'eau savonneuse petit-à-petit sur votre tête, en la mettant en arrière pour ne pas que l'eau entre en contact avec vos yeux, parce qu'attention ça pique! Versez un peu d'eau, massez, versez encore un peu d'eau, massez etc. jusqu'a ce que vous ayez massé tout votre cuir chevelu et la longueur. C'est pratique si vos cheveux sont longs, car l'eau savonneuse mousse sur la longueur mais pas sur la tête! Moi je me sers de la longueur de mes cheveux comme un "gant" pour masser mon cuir chevelu avec, afin qu'il y aie plus de mousse et que l'eau savonneuse nettoie mieux.<br><br>Après avoir versé toute l'eau et bien massé le cuir chevelu/la longueur, rincez vos cheveux.<br><br><br><b>(3) Démélant au jus de citron</b><br><br>Versez doucement toute l'eau citronnée sur votre tête et sur toute la longueur de vos cheveux. Attention de bien mettre la tête en arrière pour ne pas que le jus de citron vous pique les yeux. Peignez vos cheveux comme après un démélant ordinaire. Les cheveux sont faciles à peigner car le jus de citron les rends doux et soyeux. Rincez bien.<br><br>Et voilà, c'est tout!<br><br><br><b>(4) Remarques</b><br><br>- La <i>ritha</i> ne nettoie pas bien l'huile, alors je ne m'huile plus les cheveux (je ne l'ai jamais fait beaucoup de toute façon, c'est plus un problème pour les Indiennes car elles ont l'habitude de s'huiler les cheveux!)<br><br>- L'eau savonneuse est froide une fois qu'elle a reposé toute la nuit, alors c'est peut-être difficile de se la verser dessus! Je vis en Inde où je me douche à l'eau froide la moitié de l'année car il fait chaud, donc ce n'est pas un problème majeur pour moi, mais en hiver je préfère me laver les cheveux la tête en avant pour que l'eau froide ne me coule pas dans le dos! Dans ce cas faites-bien attention à ne pas vous verser de l'eau savonneuse dans les yeux, car vraiment ça pique, les yeux deviennent tout rouges et ça prend du temps à rincer. <br><br>- A la place de l'eau citronnée vous pouvez aussi utiliser du vinaigre de cidre de pomme (ce n'est pas facilement disponible en Inde!) La procédure est exactement la même qu'avec le jus de citron; au lieu du jus de citron versez une cuillereé à soupe de vinaigre (même quantité que le jus de citron) dans une petite tasse et completez avec de l'eau. Versez le contenu sur la tête, peignez vos cheveux et rincez bien.<br><br>- Il n'est pas absolument nécessaire d'utiliser le jus de citron/vinaigre comme démélant, mais les cheveux encore mouillés après le lavage avec la <i>ritha</i> sont difficiles à manier. Une fois sec cet effet disparait, et les cheveux sont doux, mais je préfère quand-même déméler mes cheveux avec l'eau citronnée car elle les rend vraiment doux et faciles à coiffer.<br><br>- En théorie on peut réutiliser les noix de lavage jusque 2 ou 3 fois. Cependant je trouve que les noix ne sont plus assez nettoyantes après la deuxième fois. Je réutilise alors deux "rations" de noix pour un autre lavage. En d'autres termes, pour 8 à 10 noix nouvelles j'utilise 16 à 20 noix recyclées pour me laver les cheveux.<br><br>- Je lave mes cheveux avec la <i>ritha</i> (ou le bicarbonate de soude) environ une fois par semaine. Entre deux lavages je me les rince à l'eau (il faut bien masser) tous les jours, afin qu'ils restent propres plus longtemps. (Et en Inde c'est une bonne chose car il y a beaucoup de poussière!) A noter que dans un pays chaud comme en Inde, je me douche souvent à l'eau froide, et l'eau froide lave moins bien les cheveux que l'eau chaude! En hiver je rince mes cheveux tous les deux jours seulement (à l'eau chaude) car je n'ai pas envie de me mouiller la tête tous les jours.<br><br><br><b>(5) Résultats</b><br><br>- Mes cheveux sont doux et soyeux (OK, ils l'ont toujours étés!)<br>- Ils tombent beaucoup moins.<br>- Ils ont plus de volume.<br>- Ils se graissent beaucoup moins vite que quand j'utilisais du shampooing, et quand ils sont gras ça se sent au touché mais ça se voit beaucoup moins qu'avant.<br><br><b>Mes cheveux sales après 6 jours de rinçage à l'eau, juste avant de les laver avec la <i>ritha</i>:</b><br><br><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijxYobJ7XD8/U7rR29EGBrI/AAAAAAAABZc/9VFhDhUi1TM/s1600/dirtyhair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijxYobJ7XD8/U7rR29EGBrI/AAAAAAAABZc/9VFhDhUi1TM/s200/dirtyhair2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8qNYw4k1JQ/U7rR2bPQL0I/AAAAAAAABZU/XJFR7Ewj1Gc/s1600/dirtyhair3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8qNYw4k1JQ/U7rR2bPQL0I/AAAAAAAABZU/XJFR7Ewj1Gc/s200/dirtyhair3.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TST92pHMicU/U7rR7OGP8PI/AAAAAAAABZk/dy3VRxTcAJ8/s1600/dirtyhair4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TST92pHMicU/U7rR7OGP8PI/AAAAAAAABZk/dy3VRxTcAJ8/s200/dirtyhair4.jpg" /></a><br>On ne voit pas trop que mes cheveux sont sales quand ils sont attachés, même après une semaine!<br><br><b>Mes cheveux après les avoir lavés avec les noix de lavage:</b><br><br><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbexZjA5mxE/U7wQ1HL79WI/AAAAAAAABZ8/rEQIY5R6HeY/s1600/cleanhair1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbexZjA5mxE/U7wQ1HL79WI/AAAAAAAABZ8/rEQIY5R6HeY/s200/cleanhair1.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwUIdHR9j3M/U7wQ2lEU5dI/AAAAAAAABaE/GnqXWZ2f2NQ/s1600/cleanhair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwUIdHR9j3M/U7wQ2lEU5dI/AAAAAAAABaE/GnqXWZ2f2NQ/s200/cleanhair2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tw2vuLxDWLo/U7wQ4b6JMDI/AAAAAAAABaM/ycV2l6QxL00/s1600/cleanhair4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tw2vuLxDWLo/U7wQ4b6JMDI/AAAAAAAABaM/ycV2l6QxL00/s200/cleanhair4.jpg" /></a><br><br><br><b>(6) Plus d'informations sur comment arrêter le shampooing:</b><br><br>En utilisant du bicarbonate de soude et du vinaigre:<br><b>En anglais:</b><br><a href="http://thehairpin.com/2011/04/how-to-quit-shampoo-without-becoming-disgusting" target="_new">thehairpin.com</a><br><a href="http://simplemom.net/how-to-clean-your-hair-without-shampoo/" target="_new">simplemom.net</a><br><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Wash-Your-Hair-Without-Shampoo" target="_new">wikihow.com</a><br><a href="http://fulfilledhomemaking.com/no-poo-shampoo/" target="_new">Shampoo Free from Now On!</a> - avec des photos à chaque étape!<br><b>En français:</b><br><a href="jardinamayan.blogspot.in/2011/07/le-jour-ou-jai-decide-darreter-le.html" target="_new">jardinamayan.blogspot.com</a><br><br>Se laver les cheveux à l'eau seulement!<br><a href="http://www.thepolivkafamily.com/2013/01/beyond-no-poo-washing-only-with-water/#axzz2cskAcNNv" target="_new">Beyond no poo only with water</a> - j'avoue que je n'ai pas essayé...<br><br>Se laver les cheveux avec des poudres de lavage naturelles, dont la <i>ritha</i> en poudre:<br><b>(Seulement en français)</b><br><a href="http://josephine-au-naturel.blogspot.in/2013/06/jarrete-le-shampooing.html?m=1" target="_new">Joséphine au natur'elle</a><br><a href="http://www.mesoinsnaturels.com/p/les-poudres.html?m=1" target="_new">Poudres pour les cheveux</a>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-45484686703816302122014-07-21T11:44:00.001+01:002014-08-07T19:43:21.776+01:00PIO card bureaucrazy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1n_sWcA08EI/U57ZbLx9PaI/AAAAAAAABWk/8F1y7F2TV-w/s1600/pio2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1n_sWcA08EI/U57ZbLx9PaI/AAAAAAAABWk/8F1y7F2TV-w/s320/pio2.jpg" /></a></div>Today I see the end of my PIO card application, finally. The entire story, which lingered at the back of my mind for over 1 year 1/2 is finally behind me, over and done with, for good!<br><br> It might be a tedious read, but I have decided to post a full chronological entry about my PIO card application, because really, Indian bureaucracy is <i>bureaucraZy</i>...<br><br> ~<br><br> <b>December 2012:</b> After a lot of phone calling and internet researching, Vijay and I go to Delhi and attempt to deposit my first file at the PIO card application office of the Ministry of Home Affairs. After going through my file the officer informs me that all my documents were complete, but that I can't apply for the PIO card at this stage because I have a student visa. I needed to be on an entry (X) visa (accompanying spouse) to apply for a PIO! After a few attempts during the following months we give up trying to convert my visa from student to X status, and we decide we will try to apply in Paris when we go to Europe in Spring 2013.<br><br> <b>June 2013:</b> We go to the Indian embassy in Paris with a new PIO card application pack, to find out that we can't apply from France because we are resident in India. At least we manage to get my name endorsed in Vijay's passport within a day...<br><br> <b>3 September 2013:</b> I send my third PIO application pack (including a demand draft of 15,000 rupees - valid for three months) to the Foreign Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Delhi by speed post.<br><br> <b>13 September 2013:</b> I receive the copy of a letter addressed to the Varanasi FRO (Foreigners Registration office), written by the senior officer of the Foreign Division of the MHA, Mr R.. In this letter Mr R. asks the Varanasi FRO to send them a report about me.<br><br> <b>20 January 2014:</b> After over 4 months I haven't had any news about my application (despite my vain phone calls to the MHA), so Vijay and I go to Delhi to go to the MHA in person., to find out... that the PIO card application office has been closed to the public! The receptionist says we are supposed to contact them by phone (hahaha!) The only thing we can do now is write a letter and hand it in to the man at the mail counter behind us and he will dispatch it to the PIO card office. My face drops but I write a letter, the mail-man stamps it, I make a photocopy of the stamped letter and off we go...<br><br> <b>5 February 2014:</b> I receive the photocopy of a new letter by Mr R. addressed to the Varanasi FRO. In this letter Mr R. <i>reiterates</i> to the Varanasi FRO officer that he should send a report about me to the MHA!!! This means I went to Delhi to find out that the <i>Varanasi</i> FRO officer had just not been doing his work for over 4 months!!!<br><br> <b>6 February:</b> I phone the Varanasi FRO to ask the officer if he has received the letter by Mr R. He says he has received nothing (!)<br><br> <b>7 February:</b> I go to the Varanasi FRO to show the copy of Mr R's letter to the officer in charge. Before I sit down he takes out the original of the letter onto his desk. This means he was lying to me on the phone, because he was expecting me! He tells me that he did some address checks about me (NB: he knows very well who I am because I have been registering with him every year for the past four years, and he always recognise my voice and my Hindi on the phone!) by coming to my area of town and looking/asking people around if they knew me. He even tells me that he came to my house and my landlord (who is a well-known politician so it has to be the right man) had told him that I didn't live here. Hmmm..... I ask him what to do now? He says I have to get a computerised C-form (i.e. address proof) from my landlord, and a letter from my violin teacher confirming that I have been learning violin with him since 2008.<br><br> <b>7 February evening:</b> I ask my landlord if anyone from the Varanasi FRO came a few months ago to ask about me. He says no-one came...<br><br> <b>10 February:</b> I go back to the Varanasi FRO with a letter from my violin teacher and the computerised C-Form. I beg the officer to send the documents to the Delhi MHA <i>as soon as possible</i>. He says he will do it within 3 days.<br><br> <b>14 February:</b> I phone the Varanasi FRO officer to ask him if he sent my documents to the MHA. He says he did.<br><br> <b>A few days later:</b> I realise that my first 15,000 rupee demand draft (of which I have kept a photocopy) was valid for only three months and so it has expired. I collapse wondering what to do - because Indian officers won't work if there is no money involved do they? And of course I need the original back to get the money back from the bank! I try to phone and email the MHA but I don't get any consistent information from anyone.<br><br> <b>28 February:</b> I write a letter addressed to Mr R. in the MHA (since he is in charge of my file and supposedly he will know what I'm talking about, right?) explaining that my demand draft is expired, and asking what to do.<br><br> <b>8 March:</b> Following a friend's advice I send a new letter to Mr R. with a new demand draft. (My friend said that will probably speed up the application process and somehow I believe her...) I also phone the MHA to inform them that I have sent a new demand draft. The Varanasi FRO officer has given me two phone numbers for the PIO card office of the MHA. Tel no. 1 gets through to a receptionist (I presume but really I don't know) and is relatively easy to get through. Tel no. 2 with an extension number goes through Mr R. or his colleague. That number is just impossible: you have to dial the extension number <i>at least</i> 10 times and you're lucky if you get through to someone... Most of the time they just hung up on you before even answering. I spend time, money, energy mostly to no avail...<br><br> <b>Many days during the month of March:</b> I manage to speak to the same officer of Tel no. 1. He tells me not to worry, my expired demand draft will be sent to me with my PIO card. Another time he tells me that my PIO card is ready and will be sent on Monday. Another time he tells me that it is ready but it is awaiting signature by the big officer. After a few days I start wondering if the officer from Tel no.1 talks bullshit and knows anything, so I decide to phone Tel no.2 again and again. After maaaaaany attempts (miracle!) I do get through to someone who tells me he will look at my file and "please phone back in 30 minutes". "Pleeeeeeeease don't hang up!" I think to myself. It's so bloody hard to get through to someone... Sigh. A few attempts later I manage to speak to Mr R. himself (miracle!), who tells me that at this stage the MHA has only decided to grant me a PIO card!!! I am stunned. This means the first guy from Tel no.1 has been <i>lying to me for days, just to make me happy and to get rid of my phone calls</i>. I decide I will never try to phone Tel no.1 ever again!!!<br><br> <b>25 March:</b> I receive the photocopy of a letter by Mr R. sent to the Delhi FRRO (Foreigner Regional Registration Office) which says that they have decided to grant me a PIO card. Mr R. has sent this letter to the FRRO along with all my application documents, including... the <i>old, expired</i> bank draft (aaaaaaargh!!!) and he requests them to proceed with my application. OK. At least, this piece of information is real. Sigh. But shit! He has sent them my old demand draft!<br><br> <b>26 March:</b> I get the Delhi FRRO's number from the Varanasi FRO and phone them. Miracle! That one is really easy to get through, and the guy on the phone is really nice and helpful! After checking my reference number and my address (which means it's all real information, yay!) he exclaims: "Have you not received my letter!? I sent you your old demand draft back! Please send me a new one and I will proceed with your application." AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaargh!!!! But "I did send a new bank draft to the MHA a month ago!" I tell him. "Oh oh... you should have sent it to me, you made a mistake." he replies. Cursing my friend for her advise, I tell him "But I thought if I sent it to <i>the man who was dealing with my application at the time</i> it would be fine!"<br><br> <b>A few minutes later:</b> After maaaaaaaany trials I manage to speak to Mr R. of the MHA and I ask him he has received my demand drat which I sent on 8 March. "I never received any bank draft" he answer. "But I checked the parcel number, it reached Delhi on 13 March!" I reply. Blah blah blah. He says he will look for it and send to the FRRO of Delhi.<br><br> <b>29 March:</b> I get the letter from the Delhi FRRO with my expired demand draft! Horray! The following day I go back to the bank and manage to get the 15,000 rupees back.<br><br> <b>After a few days:</b> It's just impossible to get Mr R. to do anything it seems. He hardly listens to me on the phone, and clearly he has not even tried to find my demand draft. So I go back to the bank, get a <i>third</i> demand draft for 15,000 rupees and send it the FRRO...<br><br> <b>Five days later:</b> I phone the Delhi FRRO. The guy has received my demand draft, and my PIO card application will take about 20 to 25 days. Aaaaaaaaaaah........ Sigh of relief. I have nothing to do, he will send me the PIO card to my address in Varanasi (he double-checks my address and is really nice). He will send me back my demand draft no.2 in case Mr R. sends it to him in the meantime... Sigh. At least the application is well on its way (for real!) now! The last issue is I may lose the money from Demand Draft no.2, but at least I will get the PIO card... By the way, my visa expires on 18 June 2014.<br><br> <b>In April:</b> I spend much time trying to get through to Mr R. again, to ask him to find and send me my bank draft no. 2. He doesn't listen to me properly. Vijay tries to phone him too but he doesn't listen to him properly either. One time, Mr R. even <i>shouts at me on the phone telling me he has work to do, and then hungs up on me</i>. I give up.<br><br> <b>Early May:</b> Still not received anything. I phone the Delhi FRRO to ask him where my PIO card is at. He says it will take another 20 days.<br><br> <b>End of May:</b> I phone the Delhi FRRO again. My PIO card is ready and awaiting signature by the big officer. Don't worry, you will get it soon. "My visa is expiring on 18 June" I remind the officer. "Don't worry dear, you no longer need a visa now."<br><br> <b>14 June:</b> I finally receive my PIO card in the post, four days before the expiry date of my visa and 9 1/2 months after the start of my application!!!<br><br> Horrah! Ok, but there's still a lost demand draft to retrieve <i>and I will certainly not give up!</i> Vijay and I are planning to go to Delhi in July anyway, so we shall pay a visit to the Ministry of Home Affairs then...<br><br> <b>A few days before leaving for Delhi, mid July:</b> I try to phone the MHA 7 times, dialling the extension number 10 to 15 times every time and the line dies every time. I waste over 50 rupees of phone credit in the process and give up trying to even speak to someone.<br><br> <b>21 July 2014:</b> In Delhi, I prepare a letter to hand in to the mail man at the counter of the Ministry of Home Affairs along with photocopies of all relevant letters and of course a photocopy of the demand draft. In case we're not allowed to meet anyone in charge I'll hand them the whole lot and we'll see how long it takes for them to find my demand draft... Vijay and I reach the Ministry of Home Affairs. At a first counter Vijay explains the whole story to the receptionist. The receptionist is attentive and sends us to the mail-man at the other counter. Vijay explains the whole story to the mail man. Mail man says something to the receptionist and we go back to the receptionist. Receptionist and his colleague listen to my story again, check out my documents. They're quite helpful actually. I have hope. Then Receptionist hands a phone to Vijay and tells him to dial the extension number - the same one I used to dial 10-15 times to get through to anyone when I was lucky. After 2 seconds Vijay speaks to someone in Mr R.'s office on that phone and tells the whole story again. After five minutes the receptionist hands us a special receipt allowing us to go upstairs to the Foreigners Division of the MHA. Horrah! The MHA building is super sleek and modern and clean; we check our bags at security, ask our way to various people in the corridors. Finally we reach the right office, with "Mr R."s name written on the door... I wonder what he looks like! There are quite a few desks and people in this office. One man who sits doing absolutely nothing in front of his computer looks at our receipt and tells us to sit down at the back of the room. We wait 15 minutes. No-one speaks to us, we wonder if they know what we're here for. Then the lazy man tells us that the person we have to see is coming soon, we have to wait. After 5 minutes a very small and skinny man with an angular face comes into the office. He asks us what we want. Vijay tells our story. Skinny-man opens a cupboard and within <i>one minute</i> he takes my file out to look into it. Then he goes to another desk, and <i>less than five minutes later</i> he comes back to us with my demand draft and the letter I had sent with it! "Is that the right letter?" he asks. "Yes!" I exclaim! He doesn't say anything else. I don't know who the skinny man is, I have no idea if he was Mr R.. But Within 5 minutes he has found my demand draft, which means that Mr R. was <i>bluntly lying to me on the phone</i> when he said he had not received my demand draft back in March. It would obviously had taken him no effort and no time to find and send my draft to the FRRO or to myself. The skinny man said nothing to us because he knew he was wrong all the way, right?<br><br> Anyhow. I had my demand draft in my hands and I was very happy and relieved when I left the Ministry of Home Affairs, because my 15,000 were not lost - sigh.<br><br> And with it the story of my PIO card application ends, finally!Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-61266510163531002932014-07-05T14:24:00.000+01:002014-07-09T14:26:01.756+01:00Becoming my mother-in-law's only female companyTo read this entry, please <a href="http://www.viomeenasoni.com/contact/index.htm" target="_new">email me</a> to request an invitation.<br><br> If you already have an invitation, <a href="http://vio-confidential.blogspot.in/2014/07/becoming-my-mother-in-laws-only-female.html" target="_new">you can read the entry here</a>.Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254647592606581381.post-56502556282763588442014-06-25T14:45:00.000+01:002015-01-14T13:41:15.912+00:00On the TV news!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vxq4QuE-REQ/U7FqrRVuhAI/AAAAAAAABYI/0WhLEv3Lxk0/s1600/2014-06-24_raj-express.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vxq4QuE-REQ/U7FqrRVuhAI/AAAAAAAABYI/0WhLEv3Lxk0/s200/2014-06-24_raj-express.jpg" /></a></div>Following my first concert with my students in Khajuraho (see <a href="http://violettoulli.blogspot.in/2014/06/first-concert-with-my-pupils.html">previous entry</a>), not only am I in the <a href="http://www.viomeenasoni.com/music/press/2014-06-24_raj-express.jpg" title="Raj Express (Madhya Pradesh) 24-06-2014">local newspaper</a>, I was also featured on the news on local TV!!!!<br><br>Below is the video of the television which I made with my camera! The quality is terrible, however it only adds to the "Indian-style" feel of it, huhu... The news reporter did give me a CD of the news report; however I would have to edit it to cut out only my part, and I can't figure out how to use my video-editor... Maybe one day!<br><br>What the reporter says is that I have been living in India for 6 years, that I am learning Indian violin with <a href="http://www.sukhdevprasadmishra.com" target="_new">Pt. Sukhdev Mishra</a> in Varanasi, and that I was giving a concert for the <a href="http://www.bluebank-ev.de" target="_new">Blue Bank</a> association with my students. During my interview (in Hindi) I repeat the name of my guru, and I say that today is a special day because it's the first time I play with my own students. I also say that Akhilesh has been playing violin for 2 years and Arjun for about 6 months.<br><br><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VwwS0vB0zMY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Viohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707742540853757913noreply@blogger.com0